Updated December 28, 2021
What will we be voting on?
Voters will be voting for or against the 3M square foot Redtail Ridge General Development Plan. If the majority of voters oppose the General Development Plan, the application will be denied and the applicant will have the opportunity to submit a new plan.
Ballot language has not yet been determined. We expect that the summary provided by the city clerk for the referendum petition will be similar to the summary for the ballot question. We expect to vote YES or NO on the following question or a similar question:
“SHALL THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE REPEAL ORDINANCE 1811 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONOCOPHILLIPS CAMPUS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (REDTAIL RIDGE MASTER PLAN)?
Summary of Ordinance No. 1811, Series 2021, which is subject to repeal:
Ordinance No. 1811, Series 2021 approves an amendment to the ConocoPhillips Campus General Development Plan (Redtail Ridge Master Plan) for the 389.1 acre former StorageTek/ConocoPhillips Campus property. The Redtail Ridge Master Plan allows a mix of office, industrial and retail uses with a maximum of 3,000,000 gross square feet of building area. The plan includes an internal public road network; requires 93 acres of public lands to be dedicated to the City for parks, open space, trails, and a public safety facility; establishes certain development standards; and requires that development comply with a Sustainability Commitment Plan and Transportation Demand Management Plan.”
When will the election be held?
Tuesday April 19. Just after Easter and Tax Day.
When will the ballot language be determined?
The City Clerk shall hold at least one public hearing prior to setting the ballot title for a referred ordinance and shall take into consideration any comments received at the public hearing in setting the title. (Charter Section 7-4c).
Will the election be held by mail?
The city has not yet determined the election method. Acorrding to State Law (CRS 31-10-108), "special elections shall be conducted as nearly as practicable in the same manner as regular elections. " This means that mail-in ballots will be the first choice for the city. Our Home Rule Charter also requires the election to be held in the same form as the previous regular election, which was held by mail. The City normally administers elections by coordinating with the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder’s office; however, due to redistricting next year, the County is unable to provide this service for a special election.
Why will this be decided by election rather than by City Council?
On September 21, City Council voted 4-3 to pass and ordinince that approved the Redtail Ridge General Development Plan (Ordinance 1811). Over 700 residents signed a petition to force City Council to reconsider their approval. After the petition was deemed sufficient, city council was required by state law to either repeal the ordinance or to call for an election. On December 21, City council voted 4-3 to call for an election. (They did this by passing Resolution 90-- a resolution to refer the ordinance to a vote of the registered electors of the city of Louisville at a Special Election to be held on April 19, 2022. )
The majority of public input recieved by city council via e-mail and via public comment during the Dcember 21 city council meeting encouraged city council to repeal the ordinance rather than to hold an election. Repealing the ordinance would have forced the applicant to submit a new proposal more in-line with public desires. Some councilmembers and residents expressed concern that an election would be devicive, costly, and lead to the same result, but in the end, four of seven council members decided to call for an election.